by nmaracle3834

Just wanted to let everyone know that I had taken the NCLEX a total of 5 times before I passed. I took it 3x in a row and managed to flunk........ guess I was good at it. Have never been a good test taker. Walked away from it for a while until recently. Took the test in February, flunked the stupid thing AGAIN. I ended up buying a couple reference books, flashcards and took the Kaplan review. Even went as far as pulling out my nursing books and making study guides on things I felt I was weak in. I just took the NCLEX for the 5th time this past Wednesday and found out I had passed. The reason for this thread is...... if you really want to do this deep down inside and there is no other job in the world you would want, your heart is in it 150%, then don't ever give up !!!!! Keep studying little tidbits on a daily basis, don't cram the night before. The night before, get sleep, be well rested and go in with confidence. When you're there, take your time, read the question and figure out what it's asking you, don't read into it and don't stick in "what if", answer the question that seems to be the best possible answer. Give each question enough time. Stick with it and don't give up.

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

Congratulations

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

congratulations! mind if i ask, what were your scores in your recent Kaplan review? i'm doing Kaplan now and i fear that i'm not doing very well. my scores range from 50-60%. what were your scores on the diagnostic, readiness and qtrainers?

thanks in advance.

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

Are you doing the class review that's like 9-4 for 4days? That's the one I did. When I got there the first day, they gave us a test to see how much we knew. I scored 51 on that. Like in school, everyone was, "what did you get?" They were all disappointed because they were in the dark shaded borderline area 60, I wasn't even near it. She told us that was passing. I was embarrassed. But when the course was done, we had another test and i got a 63 which made me happy. I felt like I grasped the concept. I've never been much of a test taker. Other people who did score higher on the first did better on the 2nd, but a couple actually dropped. Then I went home and took the online stuff I started off high 57, 57, 56, then I slid to 44 and 45's. The longer the tests got, my attention started to slip away. I knew I couldn't do that for the real thing. I just learned clues that nobody ever taught us. I took that test 4x before this class. I finished the class mid May and took the test on the 10th and passed. I'm not saying it's the best review for everybody, but it helped me out a lot. The instructor was great too, I think that helped. I ended up with questions on what patient you would allow the LPN to take care of. Nobody taught us that. She laid it out if it involves assessment, teaching or discharge, the RN is responsible. Never knew the exact difference except not to give LPN's unstable patients. Had a few questions and finally knew the answer. I'm just saying, she gave me little stuff that actually made a difference for me. I always took the NCLEX at face value and it's not like that. It may be the "right" answer, but not the best. Another tip she gave us is to answer the questions as the book wants, but not the real world. For example, this is just made up you get a question on cholecystectomies and you say "oh I had that dad and the nurse did this" What you learn in school and what you actually apply as you get experience as a nurse is two different things. What that nurse did for you at the hospital is probably not what you learned in your text book. Answers are text book, not real world. I also focused on my nursing books in areas where I wasn't familiar. My weaknesses were always psych, maternity, endocrine and those doggone ABG's (which I always had a bazillion questions on). I focused more on these areas because in the past that's where I had issues and of course this time I had no maternity or ABG's; quite a few in psych and endo. I hope this helps. Have you taken the test or are you scheduled to take it? Good luck.

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

Originally Posted by nmaracle3834

Are you doing the class review that's like 9-4 for 4days? That's the one I did. When I got there the first day, they gave us a test to see how much we knew. I scored 51 on that. Like in school, everyone was, "what did you get?" They were all disappointed because they were in the dark shaded borderline area 60, I wasn't even near it. She told us that was passing. I was embarrassed. But when the course was done, we had another test and i got a 63 which made me happy. I felt like I grasped the concept. I've never been much of a test taker. Other people who did score higher on the first did better on the 2nd, but a couple actually dropped. Then I went home and took the online stuff I started off high 57, 57, 56, then I slid to 44 and 45's. The longer the tests got, my attention started to slip away. I knew I couldn't do that for the real thing. I just learned clues that nobody ever taught us. I took that test 4x before this class. I finished the class mid May and took the test on the 10th and passed. I'm not saying it's the best review for everybody, but it helped me out a lot. The instructor was great too, I think that helped. I ended up with questions on what patient you would allow the LPN to take care of. Nobody taught us that. She laid it out if it involves assessment, teaching or discharge, the RN is responsible. Never knew the exact difference except not to give LPN's unstable patients. Had a few questions and finally knew the answer. I'm just saying, she gave me little stuff that actually made a difference for me. I always took the NCLEX at face value and it's not like that. It may be the "right" answer, but not the best. Another tip she gave us is to answer the questions as the book wants, but not the real world. For example, this is just made up you get a question on cholecystectomies and you say "oh I had that dad and the nurse did this" What you learn in school and what you actually apply as you get experience as a nurse is two different things. What that nurse did for you at the hospital is probably not what you learned in your text book. Answers are text book, not real world. I also focused on my nursing books in areas where I wasn't familiar. My weaknesses were always psych, maternity, endocrine and those doggone ABG's (which I always had a bazillion questions on). I focused more on these areas because in the past that's where I had issues and of course this time I had no maternity or ABG's; quite a few in psych and endo. I hope this helps. Have you taken the test or are you scheduled to take it? Good luck.

thank you so much for your in-depth response! getting this from you made me want to email you and thank you like MAD. anyway, i know we're all our own person. everyone is different. but like i mentioned, i just feel it in myself that i haven't been doing well although i'm progressing. during my 8 days class setting in Kaplan (which was last week), everyone else keep getting high 55-60% ups so that belittled me. i admit i'm not good on big tests, but i am happy to say that most of my years in school have been above average...but i was never the "good test taker." its weird how it seemed i was almost always intellectual, but not good enough on the biggies.

i can assure though, that kaplan did great for me. it enlightened me almost entirely to everything. although i have not passed the test just yet, i want to say thank you because you've just lifted up my spirit. You gave me hope and i'm glad that even if you've just recently became an RN, you're already helping people. you've IDENTIFIED THE TOPIC well, went unto assessment and validated the outcome. and the outcome is a HAPPY girl, thanks a mil =]

PS. i haven't scheduled just yet, but i will be taking it on mid july at the latest. (i know we're taught NOT to procrastinate, ... BUT, the anxiety attacks are getting to me, BIG time!) huhu.

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

Well I'm glad it helped you keep a positive attitude. Take what you have learned there, study your weekest subjects, go over everything else. Do a little every day up until the very last minute, but don't cram. Go in there confident, take your time, read the question and do not over analyze it. Take it at face value. Apply your tidbits from Kaplan and your knowledge and you should do ok. You don't pass, keep trying. Like I said, it took me 5x. I think Kaplan has a money back guarantee as long as you do all the stuff on line too. Get your money back, try another program or go back and redo the class. Just keep trying.

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

God Bless your positive attitude!

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

Re: NCLEX ~~ Recent exam takers and upcoming exams

Thanks everyone. I'm really excited. I'm actually looking into the Kaplan review thing and see what it would take to be a teacher or even a tutor. No one give up. Keep trying.